The Arabic-language website of the AMN reported that Hashd al-Shaabi fighters took full control over al-Qa’em-Albu Kamal border-crossing.

The AMN further said that the Iraqi forces are now capable of preventing ISIL from fleeing Syria’s Deir Ezzur for the Iraqi province of Anbar following the capture of the border passageway.

Earlier reports said that Iraqi forces launched an offensive to capture one of the last remaining areas under ISIL control in the country.

Iraqi forces seized several villages from the ISIL militants on Saturday in an operation to retake Rawa, the operation’s commander said, Al-Jazeera reported.

General Abdelamir Yarallah announced that Iraqi troops “launched a major offensive to liberate Rumana and the Rawa area”, adding that they have “retaken Rumana and its bridge on the Euphrates” along with 10 other villages.